Hand tool



Oct. 6,1931. u o. ALTENBACH 1,826,038

HAND Tool.4

Filed May 1'7. 1927 z ,x l

roe

Patented Oct. 6, 1931 narran STATES OTTO ALTENBACH, OF LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA HAND TOOL Application led May 17,

This invention relates to a hand tool, and especially to a compound toolthat can conveniently be carried about in the pocket.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a compact andconvenient tool that serves a number of purposes, such as a screwdriverand a knife.

It is another object of my invention to provide a double-ended tool,each end forming a distinct implement, in conjunction with a convenienthandle means for either of these ends.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a novel andcompact electricians compound tool, in which the handle member for thetool when using one of the implements, is completely insulated, as byhard rubber or bakelite, from the operative end of the tool.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of severalembodiments of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a few formsin 25 the drawings accompanying and forming part of the presentspecication. I shall now proceed to describe these forms in detail,

which illustrate the general principles of my invention; but it is to beunderstood that this 3 detailed description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by theappended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a closed compoundtool embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, of the tool shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, 4" taken in the direct-ion ofarrow 3 in Fig. 2, but

with a portion of the insulation covering removed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a slightly modified form of myinvention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof.

In general, my compound tool consists of a metal shank l1 that is shownin this instance as square, from one end of which extends a knife blade12, and from the other 1927. Serial No. 192,028.

end, a "screwdriver blade 13. It is obvious however that other kinds oftools could be substituted in place of the cutting implement andscrew-driver herein shown.

I provide a casing or box for the implements.1`his casing is so arrangedthat a part can at will beremoved to expose one of the tool extensions,the other part of the casing then serving not only to cover the othertool, but also as a handle. For this purpose I preferably provide a pairof metallic cylindrical intern'tting sections 14 and 15. Each of thesesections has a square counterbore, suoli as lo and 17, which lits snuglyover shank 11 and provides a shoulder against which the end of the shank11 abuts, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. W hen either of these sections isremoved, the other section serves as a handle for the exposed tool. Inorder to permit its use by electricians in connection with liveconductors, the sections 14 and 15 are overlaid with a thick layer ofinsulation, indicated by 18 and 19.

In order to safeguard against inadvertentY removal of the casingsections 14 and 15 when they are closed or when they serve as handles, Ipreferably provide a spring snap arrangement for locking them in place.rlhus shank 11 can be provided with apertures 2() and 2l in which arelocated the spring-pressed buttons 22 and 23. These buttons or latches,being urged by springs 32 and 33 in an outward direction, engage inSlots 26` and 27 in casings 15 and 14 respectively. That edge 24 or ofthe slot nearest the end of its respective casing is engaged by thebutton, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, whereby withdrawal of thecasing is prevented until that button is depressed out of itscooperating Slot. It is thus evident that these buttons in the positionshown, retain the casing sections against axial movement. To depressthese buttons below the cooperating shoulders, when it is desired toremove the casings, I provide insulation push-buttons 28 and 29extending through apertures in the insulation casings 18 and 19, andretained on the end of a fiat spring member 30 or 31 fastened to thecasings below the insulation. These push-buttons are thus through theheads of spring members 30 and 31 iny Contact with the tops i ofspring-pressed buttons 22 and QBWhereby these buttons 22 and 23 can bedepressed.

Coiledsprings 32, 33 for urgingbuttons22,y

23 outwardly are anchored in any appropriatey fashion at their innerends in apertures 20, 21; and at their outer ends, to the buttons 22,23.

The tool just described is adaptable for use by electricians, its handlebeing completely insulated. However, my invention can be ap plied toordinary pocket implements, or such as are adapted to be suspended on awatch chain. Figsy and 5 show such aiform, in

which casing sections 34, 35 can be' left una covered. One casing suchas 34, can be pra= vided at its end with a chain ring'36 to permit itsbeing hung on a watch chain. The casing sections 34 and 35 can each beprovided with a groove such as 37-for the accommodation, of a. flatspring 38 carrying push-button 39 for depressing the lockingr button 40.In other respects this form is quite similar to that shown in Figs. 1,2,and 3.

I claim:

In a hand tool, a shank having tool extensions at each end, a pair ofcylindrical casing sections enclosing said extensions and meeting at theshank to form u closed box-like enclosure, an insulation covering foreach section, a spring lock located in the shank for each section, and areleasing insulated button for each section operable outside theinsulation covering for permitting the section to be removed, andwhereby the other section can serve ns an insulated handle for operatingthe exposed tool.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OTTO ALTENBACH.

